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What’s Going on at COS

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Chicago Bird Photography Contest winners and submissions

Congratulations to our winners in the Chicago Bird Photography contest! Many gorgeous photos were submitted and you can view the talent in our community (and beautiful birds) on the photo contest page here.

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2024 is the Year of the Peregrine Falcon!

Twenty-five years ago, the Peregrine Falcon became the City of Chicago’s official bird. Join us as we celebrate this milestone with falcon themed trips, programs, and media all year long while highlighting an incredible species with a long and important history in our city.

And be sure to show your peregrine pride by checking out our awesome new Peregrine Falcon merch in the shop!

Join the Celebration

Upcoming Events

Field Trips and Events

Dec 21

Dec 21, 2024

LaBagh Woods Grove #1

LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday

Dec 21, 2024

LaBagh Woods Grove #1

Join us for a habitat restoration workday at COS’s flagship stewardship site LaBagh Woods, and help bring back critical bird habitat.

Dec 21, 2024

LaBagh Woods Grove #1

Dec 24

Dec 24, 2024

Humboldt Park

Humboldt Park Merry Birdmas Stroll

Dec 24, 2024

Humboldt Park

RSVP Required

Join us for a slow-paced outing at Humboldt Park. In December this park is busy with winter residents. We'll hopefully enjoy raptors (American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk), sparrows (American Tree, Song, Swamp, White-throated, and Dark-eyed Juncos), and woodpeckers (Hairy, Downy, Red-bellied).

Dec 24, 2024

Humboldt Park

Dec 25

Dec 25, 2024

Lakefront Christmas Bird Count

Dec 25, 2024

RSVP Required

Join COS for the annual Lakefront Christmas Bird Count! Every year on Christmas day, birders sally forth to count birds and contribute their sightings to the oldest continuously running citizen science project in the world.

Dec 25, 2024

Jan 9, 2025

2025 COS Annual Meeting

Jan 9, 2025

RSVP Required

Join the COS Board of Directors as we celebrate our many accomplishments in 2024, play games, and announce exciting new plans for the new year, and much more!

Jan 9, 2025

Jan 11

Jan 11, 2025

Big Marsh Park

Snowy Owl Irruption!

Jan 11, 2025

Big Marsh Park

RSVP Required

Join Chicago Ornithological Society for an in person program as we explore and take a deep dive into everything we know about Snowy Owl irruptions!

Jan 11, 2025

Big Marsh Park

Jan 18

Jan 18, 2025

North Park Village Nature Center

Snowy Owl Irruption!

Jan 18, 2025

North Park Village Nature Center

RSVP Required

Join Chicago Ornithological Society for an in person program as we explore and take a deep dive into everything we know about Snowy Owl irruptions!

Jan 18, 2025

North Park Village Nature Center

The Chicago Birder Blog

Blog

Dec 8, 2024

2024 COS Holiday Gift Guide - Gifts for Relaxation

Dec 8, 2024

Looking for that perfect holiday gift for the bird lovers in your life? Look no further! We’ve got the best gift ideas for birders who need some relaxation this winter season.

Dec 8, 2024

Nov 29, 2024

The Careful Observer of Park 566

Nov 29, 2024

Lauren Kostas interviews Dan Lory about his observations of of Park 566 and his annual Park 566 State of the Birds reports. Originally published in the Summer 2023 issue of The Chicago Birder.

Nov 29, 2024

Nov 25, 2024

Quantum Computers and Birds

Nov 25, 2024

After a series of high profile announcements and guarantees of funding from federal, state, and local governments, the all but guaranteed project was touted as finally bringing economic development to the vacant land. Anyone familiar with birding in the Calumet region however, knows that the area is anything but vacant of life and is home to countless species and an ecosystem not found anywhere else in Chicago.

Nov 25, 2024